Best Things to Do in Luxembourg City: The Ultimate Guide
Luxembourg City is one of those places that never gets the credit it deserves. Commonly (and incorrectly) confused as the smallest country in Europe, it’s a hidden gem for a reason: a canyon running straight through the middle of the old town, fairy-tale castles a short drive away, and a wine region most people don’t even know exists.
How do I know so much about this random tiny country in Europe you may be asking? Well, I was lucky enough to study abroad here back in 2007 during my junior year of college. It was my first introduction to Europe and holds such a special place in my heart. Flash forward 20 years and I now visit regularly for work as Luxembourg is a big finance hub. So you could say I know a thing or two about the best things to do in Luxembourg City and I’m excited to share those recommendations with you!
Just an FYI, this post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. It enables me to keep bringing you more free content to binge and I really appreciate it! If you would also like to earn affiliate income from your own travel suggestions, I highly recommend signing up for a Stay22 account here, it’s free! ๐ Read my Affiliate Disclosure here.
Best Things to Do in Luxembourg City
I have to start this post by giving you some incredible news about Luxembourg. This is genuinely one of my favourite things about visiting: all public transport in Luxembourg, buses, trams, and trains, has been completely free since 2020, for residents and tourists alike. There’s now also a tram that runs directly from Findel Airport into the city centre, so you don’t even need to take a taxi or bus to get to your hotel. A taxi from the airport, by comparison, will run you around โฌ50 for a 15-minute ride because of a surcharge for crossing between jurisdictions, so I’d skip it and take the free tram or bus instead. Once you’re in the old town, it’s small enough to walk almost everywhere.
The historic old town in the city centre is tiny, so you can genuinely walk the whole thing in a day which means if you have more time, you can get out of Luxembourg City and explore the rest of the country for free! However, if you’re just sticking to Luxembourg City, here’s everything I’d actually prioritise and see.
Explore the Grund
The Grund is honestly hard to explain until you’ve seen it, it’s a massive canyon-like valley right in the middle of the city, filled with bars, restaurants, a whole park, and a handful of shops, and it feels like a completely different world from modern city centre just above it. Even after living here for three months during my study abroad, I never quite figured out the most direct way down, so let me save you the confusion: there’s a lift near the Palace of Justice that will take you straight down. If you’d rather walk, look for the panoramic viewpoint near the restaurant Mesa Verde, it’s a genuinely beautiful path down and one of the best photo spots in the city.
Walk the Chemin de la Corniche
Nicknamed “Europe’s most beautiful balcony,” this scenic walkway traces the old fortified ramparts along the edge of the Grund and gives you sweeping views over the valley, the old town rooftops, and the surrounding hills. It connects nicely with the Casemates du Bock and the walk down into the Grund, so you can string all three together in one loop, this is genuinely one of the most underrated things to do in Luxembourg City and most first-time visitors miss it entirely.
Visit the Casemates du Bock
The Casemates du Bock is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed network of underground fortifications carved into the rock beneath the old town, dating back to the 17th century. You can walk through the tunnels yourself, and the views out over the Alzette valley from the top are some of the best in the city. It sits right at the edge of the old town, so it’s an easy first stop and a small entry fee gets you in.
Shop the Old Town (and Beyond)
The main pedestrian street in the old town, Grand-Rue, is lined with a mix of international high-street names and independent boutiques. The famous luxury department store, Galeries Lafayette, also has a location right on Grand-Rue- six floors of fashion, beauty, and homeware, and there’s a free rooftop with a bar/restaurant and city views that’s worth the trip up even if you don’t buy anything.
For something more upscale, head to Rue Philippe II near Place d’Armes, think designer boutiques and elegant window displays the whole way down. If you want a proper taste of Luxembourg to bring home, stop into Oberweis or Namur, two of the city’s best-known patisseries, both known for Luxembourgish chocolates called Knippercher
If you’d rather do a proper mall run, Cloche d’Or Shopping Center in the Gasperich district is the largest in the country, with well over 100 stores including Auchan, H&M, Zara, and Sephora, plus a food court if you need a break. It’s a short tram or bus ride from the old town.
Go Wine (Crรฉmant) Tasting
Luxembourg makes its own version of sparkling wine called crรฉmant, essentially champagne in every way except the name, since it isn’t made in the Champagne region of France. It’s a genuinely underrated find and one of my favourite things to bring home as a souvenir if you’ve got room in your luggage. You can book a guided walking tour with crรฉmant tastings through GetYourGuide if you’d rather not track down tasting rooms yourself.
๐ Need help Planning your trip?
- ๐ฑ Mobile Data: For mobile data abroad, make sure you grab an eSIM. Airalo is my go to!
- ๐จ Hotels: To find the best hotel deals, I use Booking.com, Expedia, and Hotels.com
- ๐ก Hostels: My go to website for finding hostels is Hostelworld
- ๐โโ๏ธโโก๏ธ Activities: To find the best activities, I use GetYourGuide
- ๐ Car Rentals: My go to is Expedia for car rentals
- โ๏ธ Flights: I search for all of my flights using either Google Flights or Skyscanner. Kayak is also a good option.
- ๐ฉบ Travel Insurance: Safety Wing is my go to for long-term continuous travel insurance.
- ๐ If you’re adding Luxembourg to a longer trip, grab my Gap Year Over 30 Guide.
See Notre-Dame Cathedral
Luxembourg City’s Gothic cathedral is just a short walk from the Grand Ducal Palace and worth stepping inside for, particularly the crypt, which holds the tombs of the Grand Ducal family. It’s free to visit and takes maybe 20โ30 minutes, an easy add-on to the palace and old town walk.
Visit the Grand Ducal Palace
This is where the Grand Duke stays when he’s in town. It’s right in the heart of the old town, so it’s an easy stop to combine with a walk around the surrounding streets and squares. It’s free to walk past and see from the outside. There’s even a changing of the guard if you want to stick around and watch.
Cross the Adolphe Bridge
The Pont Adolphe is the bridge connecting the old town to the newer part of the city, arching directly over the Grund. It’s a genuinely stunning viewpoint on its own. Runners, it also makes a great stretch to add to your route if you’re bringing your trainers.
Tour the Bofferding Brewery
If beer is more your thing, Bofferding is one of Luxembourg’s best-known local breweries and offers tours. I did this during my study abroad and it’s a fun way to spend an afternoon if you’ve already covered the main sights. Another local brand worth trying while you’re there is Bรขni.
Visit the Luxembourg City Christmas Market (Seasonal)
If you’re visiting over the festive season, Luxembourg’s Winterlights festival transforms the old town into a proper Christmas market, spread across several squares including Place d’Armes, Place Guillaume II, and Kinnekswiss, with mulled wine, food stalls, and rides. It’s a wonderfully cosy, less-crowded alternative to some of the bigger European Christmas markets. I’ve broken down exact dates and what else to expect seasonally in my best time to visit Luxembourg City guide.
Day Trip: Vianden Castle
If you have any extra time, book a guided day trip out to one of the castles just outside the city. The most famous is Vianden Castle, a genuinely stunning medieval hilltop castle that’s well worth the trip out. You can book transport and a guide together through GetYourGuide so you don’t have to worry about renting a car.
Not sure how to fit all of this into a short trip? I’ve mapped these exact stops into a 1 Day in Luxembourg City itinerary, and if you’re wondering when to go, check out my best time to visit Luxembourg City guide first.
If planning yourself still feels too much, you can always just book a guided tour of Luxembourg on Get Your Guide
Luxembourg City FAQs
Best time to Visit Luxembourg City by Season
I’ve written an extensive guide on the best time to visit Luxembourg City when planning around things like budget, outdoor activities, wine tasting, etc. But below is the quick version if you’re only considering the weather and seasons.
Dec – Feb (Winter) โ๏ธ
Winter in Luxembourg City is genuinely cold, highs typically sit around 3โ7ยฐC (37โ45ยฐF) with lows dipping just below freezing, and daylight hours shrink to their lowest point of the year in December. That said, this is when the Winterlights Christmas market takes over the old town, which makes December one of the most atmospheric times to visit despite the cold, more on that below.
Mar – May (Spring) ๐
Spring is a genuinely lovely, underrated time to visit. Temperatures climb from a cool 5ยฐC (41ยฐF) in March to a much more pleasant 15ยฐC+ (59ยฐF) by May, and April tends to be the driest month of the year, so you’ve got decent odds of clear skies for walking the Grund and the Chemin de la Corniche. Crowds are still low compared to summer, which makes this one of my personal favourite windows.
Jun – Aug (Summer) โ๏ธ
This is peak season, and for good reason, temperatures sit in the comfortable 18โ25ยฐC (64โ77ยฐF) range, June brings the longest days of the year with over 16 hours of daylight, and outdoor dining in the Grund is at its best. It’s also, unsurprisingly, the busiest and most expensive time to visit, so book hotels early if you’re set on summer dates.
Sep – Nov (Autumn) ๐
September still holds onto some of summer’s warmth, but by November the city has cooled considerably and turned noticeably greyer and wetter. If you don’t mind a bit of rain, this is a quieter, less crowded time to visit with good hotel availability. It’s also a nice window for wine-focused visits, since it overlaps with the tail end of the region’s harvest season.
How to Get to Luxembourg City
Luxembourg City is served by Luxembourg Findel Airport (LUX), just a few miles from the city centre, with direct flights from major European hubs like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Vienna, and Milan, most of these routes run well under two hours. There are currently no direct flights from North America, Asia, or other long-haul destinations, so if you’re travelling from further afield, you’ll need to connect through a major European airport first.
Because Luxembourg sits right at the border of France, Germany, and Belgium, it’s also genuinely easy to reach by train, which is actually why my university chose it as a study abroad location in the first place. High-speed rail connects Luxembourg City directly to Brussels, Paris, and several German cities, making it an easy add-on if you’re already travelling through Western Europe rather than a destination you need to fly into specifically.
How to Get Around Luxembourg City
As mentioned above, all public transport in Luxembourg, buses, trams, and trains, has been completely free since 2020, for residents and tourists alike. So you can explore without breaking the bank!
Currency used in Luxembourg City and is Cash or Card preferred
The currency used in Luxembourg City is the Euro. I used card almost everywhere in Luxembourg City on my last visit. That said, it’s still worth carrying a bit of cash just in case.
For US Travelers
For UK Travelers
Do people speak English in Luxembourg?
Yes, you’ll have no trouble getting by in English in Luxembourg City. The country has three official languages, Luxembourgish, French, and German, but English is widely spoken, especially in the capital, which has a huge international population thanks to the EU institutions and finance sector based there. Menus, signage, and most people you’ll interact with as a tourist will be comfortable in English.
Is Luxembourg City Safe?
Yes Luxembourg City is very safe. I felt completely comfortable walking around day and night everywhere in Luxembourg City. Like most European cities, there are pick pockets and petty theft, so just keep your wits about you and pay attention to your surroundings and you should be just fine!
No matter how safe a destination is, you should ALWAYS have travel insurance. I highly recommend Safety Wing for travellers who will be traveling long term. Their essential plan not only covers medical emergencies but also travel emergencies such as lost luggage or trip cancellation.
Is Luxembourg City a good destination for solo travellers?
Yes! The city is safe, clean, small, and walkable. As a solo female traveller, I felt completely comfortable here.
What is the number one thing to do in Luxembourg City?
Personally, I think exploring the Grund is one of the best things to do in Luxembourg City. You have Casemates du Bock, the Chemin de la Corniche, a park to explore, restaurants, pubs, and shops. It’s like its own little world down there.
Are there free things to do in Luxembourg City?
Yes, plenty. Walking the Grund, the Chemin de la Corniche, crossing the Adolphe Bridge, seeing Notre-Dame Cathedral, and viewing the Grand Ducal Palace from outside are all free. Public transport around the city is also completely free, which helps keep costs down even more.
Is one day enough to see the best things to do in Luxembourg City?
Yes, the old town is compact enough to cover the highlights in a day. I’ve mapped out exactly how I’d do it in my 1 Day in Luxembourg City itinerary, which strings together everything in this guide in a logical order.
What’s a good day trip from Luxembourg City?
Vianden Castle is the standout, a genuinely stunning medieval hilltop castle you can reach on a guided day tour without needing a car.
How to get phone data when visiting Luxembourg City
If your phone provider doesnโt have a great international roaming plan, then Iโd recommend getting an eSIM. I normally use the Airalo app to get my eSIM to access data abroad. You can use my code WRIGHT3 to get $3 off your first eSIM with Airalo.
Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Do in Luxembourg City
Luxembourg City is proof that you don’t need a huge, famous capital to have an incredible European city break. Between the Casemates du Bock, the Grund, and the castles just outside the city, it’s one of the most underrated weekend destinations in Europe. If you’re planning your trip, check out my guides on where to stay in Luxembourg City and the best time to visit next, and I really hope this list helps you make the most of it.
